Jewelry earring clutch

ABSTRACT

Jewelry earring clutch that integrates a clutch with a decorative element. The jewelry earring clutch is placed on the post of an earring to secure the earring to the pierced ear lobe. The jewelry earring clutch provides an attractive decoration to the back of the earring.

BACKGROUND INFORMATION

1. Field of the Invention

The invention relates to the field of earrings. More particularly theinvention relates to a device that secures ornamental jewelry to thebackside of a post earring by mounting the jewelry to that portion ofthe earring post that penetrates through the material or body part it ismounted on.

2. Description of the Prior Art

Pierced ear jewelry consists of the decorative element worn on theoutside of the ear lobe, a post that is affixed to the ear jewelry andpenetrates through the pierced hole in the ear lobe, and a clutch thatcaptures the post on the back side of the ear lobe. This clutch gripsthe post through the action of metal spring clips or friction.

Various clutch devices are known for attaching to earring posts,principally utilizing spring clips to fasten the post. These knownclutch devices are designed primarily for functionality, withoutaesthetic considerations. The conventional earing clutch device does notincorporate a decorative element, but merely slides over the post to aposition where it secures the earring against the ear lobe, allowing aportion of the post to be exposed to view. As a result, the view of theback of the earring, when it is secured on the ear lobe, is generallyunattractive.

What is needed, therefore, is an jewelry earring clutch thatincorporates a decorative element that is worn on the backside of anearring and secures the earring to the ear lobe. What is yet furtherneeded is a jewelry earring clutch that is easily manufactured andassembled.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

For the reasons cited above, it is an object of the present invention toprovide a jewelry earring clutch that is attractive and secures theearring to the ear lobe. It is a further object to provide a jewelryearring clutch that is easily manufactured and assembled.

The objects of the invention are achieved by providing a jewelry earringclutch that integrates a clutch into decorative jewelry. As usedhereinafter, the term “jewelry” includes but is not limited todecorative elements worn for personal adornment, such as cubes thatattach directly to the earring post or other shapes that depend from anelement that attaches to the earring post. The jewelry may includegemstones or other stones, initials or symbols, miniature electroniclight effects, and may be made of a variety of materials that aresuitable for decorative articles, such as metal, synthetic materials,natural materials and fiber, etc. The jewelry earring clutch accordingto the invention is generally shown applied to the post of a piercedearring, with the face of the earring placed on the front of an ear lobeand the post inserted into a piercing in the ear lobe. It is understood,however, that a pierced earring can be worn on other parts of the bodyand the the terms “front” and “back” are used relative to the surface onwhich the face of the earring proper is mounted. It should also beunderstood that the term “ear lobe” as used hereinafter isrepresentative of any body part or material on which an earring with apost is mounted. As such, “ear lobe” includes all surfaces of the outerear, skin flaps in or around the navel or elsewhere on the body, andalso fabric on which an earring with a post is mountable.

The jewelry earring clutch according to the invention has a clutchincorporated into the decorative element and secures the earring to theear lobe. The decorative element has a hole or depression for receivingthe clutch. The clutch comprises a flexible body with flanges. The bodyis forcibly inserted into the hole or depression and the flanges at theends of the body hold the clutch in the bore, such that it is not easilyremovable without the use of a tool. Ideally, the dimensions of thejewelry earring clutch are such that the portion of the earring postthat extends beyond the ear lobe is completely enclosed the clutch. Thiseliminates the unsightly view of the exposed post that is so common withconventional post earrings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The present invention is described with reference to the accompanyingdrawings. In the drawings, like reference numbers indicate identical orfunctionally similar elements.

FIG. 1 is an exploded perspective view a first embodiment of theinvention, showing an earring front and post, a pierced earlobe, adecorative element, and a clutch.

FIG. 2 is a cross sectional view of the earring mounted from the fronton the pierced ear lobe, with the jewelry earring clutch securing theearring at the back of the ear lobe.

FIG. 3A is a cross-sectional view of the clutch.

FIG. 3B is a cross sectional view of the clutch being inserted into adecorative element.

FIG. 3C is a cross sectional view of the assembled jewelry earringclutch, ready for use.

FIG. 4 is an exploded view of a second embodiment of the invention,showing a decorative element that includes an electronic strobe light.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

FIG. 1 is an exploded view a typical earring front 4 with a post 5, anda jewelry earring clutch 100, prior to assembly. An earlobe 6 has anearring hole 7. The jewelry earring clutch 100 comprises a decorativeelement 2 and a clutch 1. The decorative element 2 is represented inthis embodiment as a cube, but it is understood that the decorativeelement 2 includes elements of any shape or suitable material. A clutchhole 3 in the decorative element 2 is provided for receiving the clutch1. The clutch hole 3 is of a dimension that will accommodate and providea secure fitting for the clutch 1.

FIG. 2 illustrates the post 5 penetrating the ear lobe 6 through thepierced hole 7 and fitting snugly in the jewelry earring clutch 100 in apost hole 1A provided in the clutch 1. The diameter of the post hole 1Athat provides a close fit for standard earring posts diameters. Theclose fit provides sufficient friction to keep the earring front 4 andjewelry earring clutch 100 in place. An ideal material for the clutch 1is a molded or flexible PVC, which has a low coefficient of friction.

FIGS. 3A, 3B and 3C illustrate the assembly of the clutch 1 within thedecorative element 2. The clutch 1 comprises a clutch body 8 with aninner flange 8A and an outer flange 8B. The post hole 1A is formed withan enlarged opening 9A and a narrow opening 9B. The clutch body 8 isshown here as being generally tubular in shape. It is understood,however, that the clutch body 8 is of a shape that best accommodates theshape of the clutch hole 3.

FIG. 3B depicts the clutch 1 being forced into the clutch hole 3 withthe use of an assembly tool 10. The enlarged opening 9A of the post hole1A allows the inner flange 8A and a portion of the body 8 to collapse intoward the post hole 1A while the clutch 1 is being forced into theclutch hole 3.

FIG. 3C shows the clutch 1 in assembled condition. The inner flange 8Aspreads out to its original shape once it clears the clutch hole 3,thereby locking the clutch 1 into place in the decorative element 2.

FIG. 4 illustrates a second embodiment of a jewelry earring clutch 200.An adapted decorative element 2A is a whimsical piece of jewelry thatemits a blinking light. In this case, the adapted decorative element 2Aincludes a case 11 containing electronics 13, a coin cell battery 14 anda light emitting diode (LED) 12. The clutch 1 is mounted in a first sideof the case 11, and is not shown not shown in this view.

The jewelry earring clutches 100 and 200 have been described as beingattached to the earring post 5 at the back of the ear lobe 6. This isfor reasons of simplicity of illustration only. It is, of course,possible to have an earring face 4 that is inserted into the earringhole 7 from the back of the ear lobe 6 and to mount the jewelry earringclutch 100 or 200 on the front face of the ear lobe 6, depending onwhich side of the earring the wearer decides to present on the frontface of the ear lobe 6. For example, an earring comprises anaesthetically pleasing disc face made of gold and is inserted from theback face of the ear lobe 6. The jewelry earring clutch 100 or 200 ismounted on the earring post 5 on the front face of the ear lobe 6. Ifthe wearer has a collection of jewelry earring clutches, he or she coulduse the disc face and simply exchange the clutch 1 to present a new lookforward.

There has been described and illustrated herein an attachment system forattaching decorative devices to the backside of an earring. Whileparticular embodiments of the invention have been described, it is notintended that the invention be limited thereto, but that the inventionbe as broad in scope as the art will allow. It will therefore beappreciated by those skilled in the art that yet other modificationscould be made to the present invention without deviating from its spiritand scope as so claimed.

1. A device for securely mounting an earring with a post, said devicecomprising a decorative element that includes a clutch.
 2. The device ofclaim 1, wherein said clutch has a post hole that is slidably mountableon said post and said clutch provides sufficient frictional force tohold said earring in position.
 3. The device of claim 1, wherein saiddecorative element has a rigid outer structure and a clutch hole forreceiving said clutch.
 4. The device of claim 3, wherein said clutchcomprises a flexible body with a flange at each end of said flexiblebody, wherein said clutch is insertable into said clutch hole such thata flange protrudes from said decorative element at each end of saidclutch hole and prevents said clutch from being removed from said clutchhole.
 5. The device of claim 4, wherein said post hole in said clutchwidens at one end of said body and a wall of said body becomes thinner,so as to provide greater flexibility of said one end of said body. 6.The device of claim 5, wherein said clutch is made of PVC.
 7. The deviceof claim 1, wherein said decorative element is a cube with initials orsymbols imprinted on said cube.
 8. The device of claim 1, wherein saiddecorative element includes a case that encloses a miniature light and apower source.